LIGHT OPERA THEATRE OF SACRAMENTO (LOTS)
The Light Opera Theatre of Sacramento (LOTS) was founded in 1982 by Mike and Debbie Baad and Dolores Allen. Drawing on their considerable theatre experience, including roles with the Sacramento Opera and Davis Comic Opera, the Baad family assembled a core group of St. Mary's Church Choir members to start the St. Mary's Players. "H.M.S. Pinafore," the St. Mary's Players first production in 1982, received rave reviews. "H.M.S. Pinafore" was followed in 1983 by "The Pirates of Penzance" and in 1984 by "The Mikado." By this time, the St. Mary's Players, drawing on many talented performers from throughout the Sacramento area, had established itself with the theatre-going public, and its productions were attracting larger and larger audiences. In its fourth year, the St. Mary's Players became The Light Opera Theatre of Sacramento and moved to a new "home" at the Coloma Community Center. In 1989 they moved to their present location at the 24th Street Theater.
In addition, LOTS has performed at the Woodland Opera House, Theater El Dorado in Placerville, at the Vet's Memorial Theatre in Davis, and in Roseville. In previous years, LOTS has also presented works other than the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire, including "Man of La Mancha," and Stephen Sondheim's "Side by Side." LOTS is a member of the Sacramento Area Regional Theater Alliance (SARTA) and a founding member of the League of Sacramento Theatres. Mike and Debbie Baad continue to guide the development of LOTS as artistic directors of the organization.
2012 Production:
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE
Light Opera Theatre of Sacramento celebrates its 31st season with Gilbert & Sullivan’s swashbuckling musical comedy "The Pirates of Penzance." Goofy, irreverent, and as entertaining today as it was when it first opened in 1879, Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" follows the story of an orphan boy who was mistakenly apprenticed to a pirate instead of a (ship's) pilot. One of the most popular operettas ever written, "Pirates" is a hilarious farce featuring soft-hearted pirates, bumbling policemen, impressionable young ladies, an eccentric Major-General, and is pouring over with unforgettable melodies such as "Poor Wandering One," and tongue-twisting songs such as "I am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General." The company performs with a live orchestra and supertitles.
SACRAMENTO PERFORMANCES
24th Street Theatre 2791 24th Street, Sacramento
Friday, February 10, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 11, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 12, 2:00 p.m.
Friday, February 17, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 18, 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 19, 2:00 p.m.
===DAVIS PERFORMANCES=== Davis Veterans Memorial Center Theatre 203 East Fourteenth Street, Davis
Friday, February 24, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 25, 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 26, 2:00 p.m.
Tickets:
$15 for students, children (12 and under), seniors (55+), or SARTA members.
$20 for general admission.
Seating is unreserved, but accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request.
Tickets available through BrownPaperTickets.com or by calling (800) 838-3006
Sacramento performances direct link: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/203999
Davis performances direct link: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/205317
For more information contact the Light Opera Theatre of Sacramento by phone at (916) 258-LOTS (5687), via email at [email protected], or by visiting www.LightOperaSac.org.
Synopsis: When Frederic (Ian Cullity) was a child, Ruth (Debbie Baad), his nurse, was instructed to apprentice him to be a ship's pilot. Being hard of hearing she misunderstood and instead apprenticed him to be a pirate, taking a job as the pirates’ maid-of-all-work in order to be by his side. Having finally reached the age of twenty-one, and having dutifully served his piratical apprenticeship, Frederic is preparing to return to civilization. With just half an hour left to serve, Frederic warns the Pirate King (Chris Baad) that he plans to renounce piracy and, since it is a dishonest business, will now devote himself to drive it out of existence. Frederic urges the piratesMajor-General to join him in embracing a lawful calling, but they refuse.
Ruth pleads with Frederic to marry her and take her with him. Frederic has never seen another woman and has no way of knowing whether Ruth is as beautiful as she tells him. Nor is he sure how he feels about taking a forty-seven year old wife. Just then a group of young girls, the daughters of Major-General Stanley (Mike Baad), appear. Frederic immediately sees they are beautiful—in contrast to Ruth’s plainness—and renounces her. Frederic attempts to attract the attention of the girls, but only Mabel (Sara Haugland) takes an interest. As Frederic woos her, the pirates return and seize the girls, determined to marry them on the spot. The Major-General opportunely arrives and dissuades the pirates from their dastardly plan. He has heard that they show sympathy towards orphans and tells them that he is one. Sure enough, they agree to free his daughters.
The Major-General has taken to spending sleepless nights full of guilt on account of his lie to the pirates. He is consoled only by his children's sympathy and Frederic’s plan of leading a band of police against the pirates. The police arrive and are enthusiastically sent off by the Major-General and the girls, leaving Frederic alone. The Pirate King and Ruth return and confront Frederic with some news of their own. They remind Frederic of an amusing paradox: his apprenticeship was to run out on his twenty-first birthday, and since he was born on February 29th—leap day—he has only now reached his fifth birthday! Obeying the dictates of his strong sense of duty, Frederic immediately rejoins the pirates. He tells them that the Major-General is not really an orphan and they declare revenge. Awaiting the perfect opportunity, they sneak up on the Major-General and capture him. Just in the nick of time, the police come to the rescue and charge the pirates to yield, which they do. Ruth explains that pirates are really “all noblemen who have gone wrong” and they are pardoned and allowed to marry the girls.
Cast:
Pirate King—Chris Baad Samuel—Scott Beckner Frederic—Ian Cullity * Ruth—Debbie Baad Edith—Kelly Daniells * Kate—Kate Murphy Isabel—Ashley Olson * Mabel—Sara Haugland Major-General Stanley—Michael Baad Sergeant of Police—Bob Schroeder
Pirates and Police
Jerry Concilla Brent Dirksen * Dwight Freund Steve Herrin George Kastanis * Bob Krull Dave Mauck * Timothy Power Troy Turpen Robert Vann
General Stanley's Daughters
Brittany Bardwell * Heather Beckner Bernadette Durbin Vanessa Gonzalez * Mary Murphy * Meredyth Rosenberg Rhonda Thomas * * = Company debut
Stage Director: Katie Daley Music Director: Philip Daley Costume Designer: Theresa Vann-Stribling Scenic Designer: Dwayne Slavin Props Designer: Jennifer Varat Lighting Designer: Benjamin Ismail
